Rotary ice cube ejector mechanism



Nov. 17, 1959 E. E. MODES ETAL ROTARY ICE CUBE EJECTOR MECHANISM 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18, 1955 ATTORNEYS INVENTORS. EDWARD-EMODE?NlCHOL-A MILL'EK q Q m. \l-E k .S 6 Q r .355 w iiiaiaafau N v N 8 mm a NN 3 5 m W Nov. 17, 1959 ELIE. MODES ETAL 2,912,835

I ROTARY ICE CUBE EJECTOR MECHANISM I Filed July 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet2 F I G 4 INVENTOR5 EDWARD e. MODE5 kHCHOLA NULL-ER MM l ATTQRNEY5United States Patent ROTARY ICE CUBE EJECTOR NIECHANISM Application July18, 1955, Serial No. 522,526

Claims. (Cl. 62-351) This invention relates to improvements in icemaking apparatus and more particularly relates to an apparatus forautomatically ejecting frozen ice blocks from the mold therefor.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a simplified andimproved ejecting device for, ice blocks from a mold in which the iceblocks are ejected by a simplified form of heat motor.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel and simplifiedapparatus to be contained within a household refrigerator for freezingblocks of ice and for automatically ejecting the ice blocks whenfrozenby the use of a heat motor in the form of a solid fill thermalelement.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a simple and novelform of ice block mold for incorporation in a household refrigerator forfreezing individual blocks of ice therein, in which a means is providedto heat .the mold to free the frozen ice blocks and a high motion solidor wax filled type of thermal element rotates individual blades for eachice block, for moving the freed ice blocks from the mold, and an ejectorlever operating by the energy stored by the freeing operation of the iceblocks from the mold, serves to eject the freed ice blocks from the moldinto an ice tray or like receptacle.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a novel andimproved form of ice block mold, .particularly adapted for use inhousehold types of refrigerators and having heating means for heatingthe mold upon freezing of the Water in the form of ice cubes, individualblades for each ice block, for removingthe ice cubes from the mold andan ejector member operated by operation of the freeing blades and biasedto move toward the blades, for ejecting the ice blocks laterally beyondthe mold upon removal of the ice blocks-from the mold by the blades, inwhich a high motion solid or Wax filled type of thermal element servesto operate the blades as the frozen blocks are freed from the mold byheat and in which the ejector member, blades and thermal element arereturned to their initial'positions, to carry out a next succeedingejecting cycle of the ice blocks, by the energy stored up during thepreceding ejecting operation.

These and other objects of our invention will appear from time to timeas the following specification proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherem:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an ice block mold and ejectormechanism for the frozen blocks of ice constructed in accordance withour invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through thecenter of the mold shown in 'Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the mold shown in Figure 1 looking toward theright hand end thereof; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IVIV ofFigure 1 and illustrating by broken lines the operation of depositingthe ice blocks freed from the mold into a tray or like receptacle.

, 2,912,835 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 In the embodiment of'our inventionillustrated in the drawings, the ice making apparatus includes generallya tray or mold 10 having a plurality of cavities 11 therein opening tothe top thereof and forming molds for freezing water the form ofindividual cubes or blocks or ice 12 when the mold is contained within arefrigerator.

The cavities 11 or shown in Figures 2 and 4 as having concave arcuatebottoms 13'and outwardly flaring side Walls 14 to facilitate the removalof the ice blocks or cubes 12 from the mold.

The mold or tray 10 may be made from any suitable material such asaluminum, copper clad with strainless steel, or copper having high heattransfer properties and a minimum surface sticking property to the ice.The walls of the cavities may also be coated with a silicone preparationto further facilitate the freezing of the ice blocks from the mold.

The mold 10 is recessed at its bottom as indicated by referencecharacter 15 and the recess at the bottom portion thereof terminatesinto a marginal recess 16 extending along the cavities 11 adjacent thebottom there of and having a heater 17 extending therealong. The heater17 may be a well known form of sheeted electric heater and serves toheat the mold to thaw the ice blocks 12 at the contacting surfaces ofthe ice blocks with the cavities 1 1, to accommodatethe ice blocks to beremoved thereupon.

The means for removing the ice blocks 12 from the cavities 11 uponthawing of the contacting surfaces of said ice blocks with said cavitiesis herein shown as comprising a plurality of parallel individual pusheror scraper blades 19, connected to move together to slidably remove iceblocks from the cavities 11. As herein shown, the blades. 19 extend froma common shank 20 extending partially about apivot shaft 21 and securedto said shaft for rotation therewith as by pins 22. The shaft 21 is-rotatably carried in spaced upwardly opening sockets 23 formed in theend walls of the mold 10 spacing said shaft above the cavities 11 tomove the blades 19 into and across the cavities from one end thereof tothe other.-

A suitable means (not shown) may be provided to retain said shaft tosaid sockets.

The shaft 21 extends for the length of the mold 10 and is shown as beingin alignment with the longitudinal axis thereof and in vertically spacedrelation with respect to the cavities 11, and has an outboard end 24having a pinion 25 keyed or otherwise secured thereto. The pinion 25meshes with the teeth of a gear sector 26, formed integrally with thedepending end portion 27 of a lever 29. The lever 29 is pivotallymounted on the end wall of the mold or tray 10 on a pivot pin 30.

The lever 29 is shown as having a flattened engaging portion 31, spacedinwardly from the pin 30 toward the pinion 25 and facing to one side ofthe mold 10. The flattened engaging end portion 31 of the lever 29 isshown as being engaged by a rounded bearing end 32 of a piston 33 of aheat motor 35, herein shown as being a thermal element of the so calledpower or high motion solid fill type of thermal element, such as isshown and described in the Vernet Patent No. 2,368,181 dated January 30,1945. The wax or solid fill type of thermal element shown has beenselected for its compactness and simplicity, as well as its extremepower and the relatively long range of travel of its power member orpiston 33. In such types of thermal elements, a thermal medium (notshown) is contained within a casing 36 for the thermal element and actsagainst a membrane or deformable member (not shown), to extend the powermember or piston 32 with respect to the casing 36, as the thermal mediumin the casing reaches its fusion point, The thermal medium may be a waxalone or a wax containing a powdered metal heat conductor and a binder,the

material used being selected for its melting or fusion point, and thefusion point thereof determining the temperature range of operation ofthe thermal element.

The casing 36 is shown as being surrounded by a shield or outer casing37, encasing a resistance heater 38, energized through conductors 39 and40, connected with a suitable source of power, to heat the thermalelement and effect extension of the piston 33 with respect to the casing36, to eject the ice cubes from the mold or tray 10.

As herein shown, the thermal element 35 has a stud 41 extending from itsend opposite the piston 33, which is threaded within a plate 42extending along the side of the mold and outwardly therefrom and securedthereto as by machine screws 43. A nut 44 is provided to lock the stud41 in position. The lever 29 is biased into the position shown in Figure3 by a tension spring 45. The spring 45 is shown as being hooked at oneend through an ear 47 extending outwardly from the lever 29 and at itsother end, through the plate 42. The spring 45 also serves to return thepiston 33 of the thermal element 35 and to return the scraper blades 19to the initial ejecting position shown in Figure 4.

Freely mounted on the shaft 21, inwardly of the bearing supports 23, isan ejector member 50 extending the length of the mold or tray 10. Theejector member 50 is shown as having two spaced arms 51 extending fromopposite ends thereof and freely mounted on the shaft 21 inwardly ofcollars 53 which abut the inner walls of the bearing supports 23. Spacedtorsion springs 54- encircle the shaft 21 inwardly of the arms 51. Saidtorsion springs each have an end 55 resting on a top portion 56 of themold or tray 10 and have an opposite arm 57 extending through a slottedportion 59 of an upright lip 66* defining the inner margin of theejector member 50. The torsion springs 54 bias outer lips 61 of theejector member 50 into engagement with the top wall of the tray or mold10.

Upon energization of the energizing circuit established through theconductors 39 and 40 and the heating of the heat motor or thermalelement 35, the piston 33 will be extended from said thermal element, topivot the lever 29 in a clockwise direction and rotate the pinion 25 andthe shaft 24 in the same direction. This will engage the scraper blades19 with the individual ice blocks or cubes 12, sliding said ice blocksalong the arcuate bottoms 13 of the cavities 11, provided the heater 17has first been energized to free the ice blocks by thawing the surfacesthereof in contact with the Walls of said cavities.

Continued extension of the piston 33 and rotation of the shaft 24 willengage the advance edges of the ice blocks 12 with the ejector member 50within the lips 61 thereof. Continued turning movement of the scraperblades 19 in a clock-wise direction will effect the turning of theejector member 50 against the torsion springs 54 to the extreme positionindicated by broken lines in Figure 4 and designated by referencecharacter A. In this position of the ejector member 50, extensiblemovement of the piston 33 will have stopped. The torsion springs 54 willthen turn the ejector member 51} in a counterclockwise direction,sliding the ice blocks along the surfaces of the scraper blades 19beyond the edge of the mold or tray 10 into an ice tray or likereceptacle 65.

Energization of the heater for the heat motor 35 is effected through aswitch 66 having the conductor 39 connected to one terminal thereof andhaving a second conductor 67 connected to the other terminal thereof andconnecting said switch with a source of current supply. The switch 66may be of any well known form and is herein shown as having adepressible button 69 having an operating plate or ear 70 extendingalong the top thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom for engagementwith the arm 27 of the lever 29 at the extreme end of travel of saidlever, to shut said switch off. This will deenergize the heater for theheat motor or thermal element 35 and accommodate the spring 45 to returnthe lever 29 to the position shown in Figure 3, and to return the piston33 with respect to the heat motor 35.

The switch 66 is turned on by a pivoted lever 71 pivoted outside thefurcations of the bifurcated bracket 73 secured to and extendingoutwardly from the opposite wall of the mold 10 from the plate 42. Thelever 71 is pivoted to the bracket 73 on a pivot pin 74 and has an ear75 projecting outwardly from its outer end for engagement with the plateor operating member 70, to depress the pushbutton 69 upon pivotalmovement of said lever in a direction, which is shown in Figure 1 asbeing a clockwise direction.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lever 71 has a U- shaped body portion77 extending downwardly along the outer sides of the bifurcated bracket7 3 and pivoted thereto. A lever arm 79 is shown as extending from theU- shaped body 77 along the inner furcation of the bracket 73. A link 80is pivotally connected to the lever arm 79 as by a pivot pin 31. Theopposite end of the link 80 is shown as being pivotally connected to anarmature 82 of an electromagnet 83 as by pivot pin 84. The lever 71 isbiased in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 by a tension spring 86connected at one end with an ear 87 extending outwardly from the bracket73 and at its opposite end to an arm 88 extending inwardly from the body77 of the lever 71 along the outer side wall of the mold 16 in spacedrelation with respect thereto.

The electromagnet may be of any well known form energized in apredetermined time sequence preferably through a timer (not shown). Asshown in Figure l the armature is rockingly carried in a bracket 90extending along one side and beyond the electromagnet 83, and is biasedin the position shown in Figure l as by a tension spring 91 connectedbetween the armature 82 and an car 93 extending outwardly from thebracket 90.

Thus upon energization of the electromagnet 83, the armature 82 willmove into engagement with the core thereof. This will move the link 80and lever arm 79 to the left, depressing the lever 71 against thetension spring 86 and engaging the car 75 of said lever with the plate70, to depress the pushbutton 69 and effect the energization of theheater 38. This will effect operation of the heat motor or thermalelement 35 and effect ejection of the ice cubes from the cavities 11 byextension of the piston 33 with respect to the thermal element as haspreviously been described.

In the ice making operation, the cavities 11 in the mold are firstfilled by suitable valve means (not shown) which may be solenoidoperated under the control of a timer (not shown). The freezing of theice cubes or blocks may then take place. Upon freezing of the water inthe form of ice cubes or blocks, the heater 17 may be energized underthe control of a thermostat (not shown) connected in a timing and cycliccontrol circuit (not shown).

The electromagnet 83 may also be energized to operate the switch 66 toconnect the heater 38 in the energizing circuit. The piston 33 will thenextensibly move and pivot the lever 29 in a clockwise direction androtate the blades 19 in a similar direction.

The scraper blades 19 pivoting a clockwise direction will slide the iceblocks 12 along the cavities 11 into engagement with ejector member 50and the lips 61 thereof. Continued movement of the scraper blades 19will effect pivotal movement of the ejector member 50 against the biasof the torsion springs 54 until the ejector member 50 reaches the brokenline position, shown in Figure 4. The lever arm 29 will also engage theplate 70 and open the circuit to the heater 38.

At the same time the torsion springs 54 will pivot the ejector member 50about the axis of the shaft 21 in a counterclockwise direction, slidingthe ice cubes or blocks along the upper surfaces of the blades 19 beyondthe mold into the tray .65.

The heater 38 now being deenergized the thermal element 35 Will cool andthe spring 45 will pivot the lever 29 in a counterclockwise directionand will return the scraper blades 19 to the solid line position shownin Figure 4 and return the piston 33 with respect to the thermal elementor heat motor 35. A next succeeding cyclic freezing and ejectingoperation may then commence.

It will be understood that various modifications and variations of thepresent invention may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the novel concepts thereof.

We claim as our invention:

1. An ice block ejector particularly adapted to remove ice blocks froman ice block mold or tray containing Within a refrigerator, comprising apivotally movable pusher blade extending across the top of the tray andmovable Within the tray from one side thereof to the other to remove iceblocks therefrom, a shaft extending along the tray and carrying saidpusher blade in spaced relation with respect to said tray, means forpivoting said shaft and pusher blade in one direction comprising athermal element operatively connected thereto and having a casingcontaining a fusible material and a piston extensible with respect tosaid casing upon fusion of the fusible material contained therein, anejector member freely pivoted on said shaft, spring means biasing saidejector member to overlie said tray, said ejector member being pivotallymoved against its spring bias to the opposite side of said tray fromsaid pusher blade by engagement of an ice block with said ejector memberupon pivotal movement of said pusher blade into and across the tray toremove an ice block from said tray, and said ejector member ejecting theice block from said tray along said pusher blade beyond the tray by theenergy stored up in said spring means.

2. In an ice block ejector, an ice block tray, a pivoted pusher bladespaced above and movable within and across the tray from one sidethereof to the other, an ejector member pivoted for movement withrespect to said pusher blade and overlying said tray and having a freeend biased into engagement with the top thereof, a heat motor forpivoting said pusher blade in a direction to remove blocks of ice fromsaid tray comprising a thermal element having a casing containing afusible material and a piston extensible with respect to said casingupon fusion of the fusible material contained therein, means driven bysaid piston for pivoting said pusher blade in a direction to remove iceblocks from said tray, said pusher blade moving an ice block intoengagement with said ejector member and pivoting the ejector member outof engagement with the tray against its bias during the ice blockremoving operation to the opposite side of the tray from said pusherblade and said ejector member moving by its bias to move an ice blockalong said pusher blade beyond said tray at the end of the ice removingoperation, and spring means for returning said pusher blade and pistoninto an initial position before a next succeeding ice block removingoperation.

3. An automatic ice making apparatus comprising a tray for ice blocksand the like, said mold having a plurality of ice block cavitiestherein, means for removing frozen blocks of ice from said cavitiescomprising a shaft extending along the top of said tray and havingpusher blades mounted thereon and pivotally moved by said shaft withinand across said cavities, an ejector member freely mounted on saidshaft, spring means biasing said ejector member to extend intoengagement with the top of said tray, a thermal element for operatingsaid shaft and containing a fusible material and having a pistonextensible upon fusion of the fusible material contained in said thermalelement, a lever engaged by said piston and pivoted thereby uponextensible movement thereof, a spring biasing said lever into engagementwith said piston, a pinion on said shaft, teeth on said lever meshingwith said pinion for pivoting said shaft and scraper blades, a heaterfor said thermal element to effect operation thereof to pivot saidpusher blades to remove ice blocks from said cavities and to engage saidejector member and pivot said ejector member against its spring biasinto position to eject ice blocks along said pusher blades beyond theside of said tray, and means operated by said lever to terminateoperation of said heater, said ejector member ejecting ice blocks alongsaid pusher blades beyond the side of said tray by the bias of itsspring.

4. In an ice block ejector, an ice block tray, a shaft extending alongthe top of said tray and journaled for pivotal movement with respectthereto, a pusher blade mounted on said shaft and movable within saidtray from one side to the other to push ice blocks therefrom uponpivotal movement of said shaft, power means for pivoting said shaft andpusher blade in a direction to push ice blocks from said tray, anejector member freely pivoted on said shaft, spring means on said shaftbiasing said ejector member to overly said tray at the opposite sidethereof from said pusher blade when said pusher blade is in position toremove an ice block from said tray, said ejector member having a lipthereon retaining an ice block in engagement therewith when pushed fromsaid tray by said pusher blade, said pusher blade moving said ejectormember against its spring bias through the medium of an ice block andstoring energy in said spring, and said spring returning said ejectormember to its biased position to push an ice block from said tray alongsaid pusher blade during return movement of said ejector member.

5. In an automatic ice block ejector, an ice block tray, means forfreeing ice blocks from said tray, means for removing frozen ice blocksfrom said tray comprising a shaft extending along the top of said trayand journaled for pivotal movement with'respect thereto, pusher bladesextending from said shaft and moved thereby to engage and push iceblocks from said tray, power means for operating said shaft and pusherblades, and an ejector member pivotally mounted on said shaft forrelative movement with respect to said pusher blades and pivoted in adirection away from said tray over the top thereof by engagement of theblocks of ice therewith effected by pushing movement of said pusherblades, and spring means biasing said ejector member to move toward saidtray and eject blocks of ice removed from said tray along said scraperblades beyond said tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,161,321 Smith June 6, 1939 2,259,066 Gaston Oct. 14, 1941 2,489,896Kempton Nov. 29, 1949 2,576,591 Geyer Nov. 27, 1951 2,599,972 BuchananJune 10, 1952 2,717,495 Andersson Sept. 13, 1955 2,717,502 Barton Sept.13, 1955 2,744,390 Partsch May 8, 1956

